2015 W.S.O.P. — L.F.G.
Yesterday, I appeared on the TwoPlusTwo PokerCast with hosts — Terrence Chan and Mazin “Msauce” Khoury. I’ve known Terrence for many years, both as a friend and a colleague. We once worked together at PokerStars. This was my first occasion to be on the air with Mazin.
Early in the interview, Terrence asked if I still get excited on the eve of the World Series of Poker, which officially begins today. Until that question was posed, I’d never really thought much of “getting excited” when it comes to working and covering big poker events. Sure, there once was a time early on in my career when I did get emotionally wired up, especially before the poker boom when I used to fly to Las Vegas every year and to cover the WSOP and hang out with lots of interesting characters. Those memories are priceless. But after you do that for a while, it gets old. Even the Beatles got bored with each other. All things must pass.
My anticipation of, and enthusiasm for, what’s about to take place at the Rio Las Vegas over the next six weeks certainly has not diminished any. Rather, it’s shifted. The game has changed. And I’ve changed, too. Now, I’m more interested in the people who I see and meet more than anything else — not just friends including players and fellow media, but the very best staff in the poker business. One recognizes there’s an esprit de corps amongst every WSOP workforce each year, which consists of more than a thousand dedicated people, many who travel to Las Vegas at their own expense from all over the country, working three shifts around the clock, with minimal complications, maintaining order amidst the chaos, especially when considering the enormousness of the entire operation. To me, what they manage to do isn’t just amazing. It’s a miracle.
And so, it’s only fitting that in just a short time the first event will begin — which is the Casino Employees Event. This has been an annual tradition at the WSOP going back nearly 20 years. The opener gives industry professionals a chance to compete and win a prestigious WSOP gold bracelet, as well as epitomizes a concerted gesture of gratitude for their hard work and dedication — not just here at the Rio, but at casinos all across the city of Las Vegas and other parts of the country, too. Those of us who work in the casino business are all in this together, and what we do does have an impact on each other. The Casino Employees Event gives us all a chance to sit together, as one of the very few events where we’re not just competitors but part of something much bigger than ourselves.
I don’t remember exactly how I answered Terrence’s question during the show yesterday. But now that I’ve reflected a bit more about my feelings, my answer is loud and clear — yes. Today is a very exciting time for me. It’s one of my favorite days of the year.
So, yes — I still do get excited, not because of the monstrosity of size and scope that the WSOP has become, and not because of ESPN’s television cameras that will magnify what goes on at the Rio and make it into a worldwide attraction. What really excites me most are the people — those I know already and those I don’t know yet, but will meet for the first time.
For me, all the people who come are what makes this event and the dawn of new relationships so exciting. And it all starts at the top with the WSOP staff.
Have a great WSOP, everyone.
Footnote 1: TwoPlusTwo’s weekly PokerCast is highly recommended as probably the most comprehensive overview of what’s going on in the poker world today. The other guest on yesterday’s podcast was Kevin Mathers, a.k.a. “Kevmath,” who is the game’s preeminent one-man news source. Following “Kevmath” on Twitter is mandatory for anyone connected to the game.
Footnote 2: I’d be remiss was I not to elaborate more on Terrence Chan, both as a friend and continued source of inspiration. In addition to being a well-respected poker pro for many years, specializing mostly in Limit Hold’em (with SCOOP and WCOOP titles), Terrence was also one of the key figures in developing and growing the online poker market. He was the architect behind PokerStars’ excellent reputation for customer service and tech support during the company’s formative years. Since he left that position, Terrence has been training as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. He has a number of professional bouts under his belt and is competing in his next fight this Saturday night (he’s undefeated, both as an amateur and pro). I encourage readers to check out his personal website, which isn’t just about poker and MMA training, but about continuous self-improvement. Visit TerrenceChanPoker.com
